TORONTO, APRIL 25 – With the 2018 Festival just over 2 weeks away, The Toronto Comic Arts Festival is proud to announce additional Featured Guests, organizations, and the complete range of posters for this year’s Festival. These announcements are in addition to the wonderful list of Featured guests already announced for TCAF 2018, taking place May 12 & 13 (with professional programming on May 11), at Toronto Reference Library, The Marriott Bloor Yorkville, and Cumberland Terrace.

Welcoming new Featured Guests!

TCAF is proud to welcome its final four featured guests of 2018, practioners along a unique range of comics styles.

Charise Mericle Harper is the author/illustrator of more than 50 books for children, including Just Grace and the groundbreaking children’s graphic novel series Fashion Kitty! She will attend TCAF in support of her new book series Crafty Cat, and the debuting title Crafty Cat and the Great Butterfly Battle.

James Kochalka is one of the most unique and prolific alternative cartoonists working in America today. A multiple award-winner for his notable kids graphic novel series’ including Johnny Book and Glorkian Warrior, and his adult works including SuperF*ckers and the American Elf autbio comic strips. He was the first Cartoonist Laureate of Vermont in 2011.

Julie Rocheleau is a Montreal illustrator and cartoonist who has worked with French-language publishers including Dargaud, Casterman, and La Pasteque. Rocheleau attends TCAF in support of her first English-language translated work About Betty’s Boob.

Georgia Webber is a comics artist and editor obsessed with health and health communication. She is the comics editor of ‘carte blanche’ magazine, and offers workshops, talks, and performances. She will attend TCAF in support of her debuting graphic novel Dumb, her autobiographical work about living with a vocal disability.

Welcoming The National Cartoonist Society!

Joining TCAF for the first time ever, The National Cartoonist Society is the world’s largest and most prestigious organization of professional cartoonists. The NCS membership roster includes over 500 of the world’s major cartoonists, working in many branches of the profession, including newspaper comic strips and panels, comic books, editorial cartoons, animation, gag cartoons, greeting cards, advertising, magazine and book illustration and more.

The NCS will have an exhibition table on the second floor at Toronto Reference Library which will feature information about the organization and host signings from member cartoonists including:

Sandra Bell-Lundy (Between Friends)

Dave Coverly (Speed Bump)

Paul Gilligan (Pooch Cafe)

John Hambrock (The Brilliant Mind of Edison Lee)

Rina Piccolo (Rhymes with Orange)

Hilary Price (Rhymes with Orange)

NCS members will also take part in programming throughout the weekend, including a “Pooches!” panel with Dave Coverly and Paul Gilligan, a “Rhymes with Orange” panel with Hilary Price and Rina Piccolo, and a “What is the NCS?” panel hosted by Sandra Bell-Lundy.

New TCAF Posters from Asano and Carroll!

As announced last week, TCAF will have four official Festival posters this year, representing the incredible range of the the cartooning that can be found at the Festival. The newly announced posters are by Inio Asano (Dead Dead Demons Dededede Destruction, above left) and Emily Carroll (Speak,above right).

Thank you to all of our poster artists for these amazing images that will be used to promote TCAF 2018! All posters will also be printed and made available for sale at TCAF, and online afterwards.

—

More to come!

Later this week or early next, look for announcements on our Professional programming (Word Balloon Academy, Librarian & Educator Day) and our public programming for Saturday and Sunday, and even more about the fest!